It is natural to repay debts, especially money borrowed in the name of the country. You really cannot rely on it just because you want to. If you want to default on the debt, you must be prepared for national credit bankruptcy.
For a global financial center like the UK, once the country's credit goes bankrupt, the losses will be more than a billion pounds.
Before the outbreak of the world war, the federal government of Southern Africa owed the British government US$150 million. After the end of the world war, the British government owed the federal government of Southern Africa US$1.35 billion. In this way, during the world war, the British government borrowed from the federal government of Southern Africa.
1.5 billion.
In fact, this 1.5 billion was not spent by the British government. Although the world war cost money, the British family could afford it. This 1.5 billion was mainly lent by the British government to those allies of the Allied Powers to fight against the Allied Powers. Now France and Italy
Russia owes Britain a total of 1.419 billion pounds, of which the Russian Empire borrowed the most, reaching 757 million pounds.
What the British government never expected was that the Russian Empire was overthrown during the World War, and the new Russian government did not recognize the debt owed by the Russian Empire. This made the British finances, which were already in red light, even worse.
"Don't worry, I guarantee in the name of the Prime Minister of the British Empire that the money will definitely be repaid, but it will have to wait." Winston will not default on the debt, but delays are inevitable.
"When will you pay it back?" Rock pressed step by step. Don't underestimate this delay. In another time and space, the British government did not pay off all the foreign debts of the British government during the First World War until 2015. It took
A whole hundred years.
Like the British government, Germany was also miserable. In another time and space, on October 3, 2010, Germany finally paid off all its debts from World War I. It took almost 92 years.
"After we get Germany's compensation, we will repay all the debts we owe." Winston vowed that the British Empire not only owed money to the federal government of Southern Africa, but also owed a large amount of national debt. Before the outbreak of the world war, the British Empire
700 million pounds of national debt was issued, and by the end of the world war, Britain's national debt had soared to at least 7 billion.
These treasury bonds also carry high interest rates, and they also have to be repaid, because the vast majority of people who buy treasury bonds are British, and about 3 million people have purchased British treasury bonds.
"Winston, do you really think Germany still has money to compensate?" Rock poured cold water directly. After the end of the world war, the Allied Powers proposed an almost blackmail-like economic compensation to Germany, totaling up to 269 billion gold marks. Calculated according to the current value,
This amount of money is equivalent to approximately 96,000 tons of gold.
In another time and space, in 2018, the total gold reserves of various countries in the world were approximately 33,300 tons.
"The Germans will still have to pay compensation even if they sell Berlin!" Winston's expression was stern. There was no room for negotiation on this issue. If the Germans did not sell Berlin, the British government would have to sell London.
"Even if the Germans dare to sell, do you dare to buy?" Roque is not vindictive. Finding a way to solve the problem is the serious business. Asking Germany to sell Berlin is a joke. The French government actually wants to sell Madagascar to southern Africa to pay off its debt.
During the World War, it was not just the British government that borrowed money from Southern Africa. As a supplier to the entire Entente, the French government also owed Southern Africa 850 million pounds after taking stock after the World War.
According to the current exchange rate, 850 million pounds is equivalent to 3.9 billion U.S. dollars, or 32 billion gold marks.
Using Madagascar to pay debts sounds like a pretty good idea.
In fact, this is also blackmail. Madagascar covers an area of 590,000 square kilometers. If the debt is really paid off, it will be almost 1,500 pounds per square kilometer, or about 7,000 US dollars.
When the United States purchased Alaska in 1867, one square kilometer cost only $4. The gold content in one dollar at that time was 1.6 grams, but now it is 1.5 grams.
So when Roque asked Winston for money, the Finance Minister of Southern Africa was also asking for money from the French government. This allocation was actually not very reasonable. Roque, a British man, should have been asked to ask for money from the French government, and then let Ada
This Frenchman went to the British government to ask for money so that he could lose face.
"Germany needs funds for reconstruction after the war, don't you have any ideas?" Winston made a plan, asking Southern Africa to lend money to Germany, then Germany would pay the money back to the United Kingdom, and the United Kingdom would return the money to Southern Africa——
Perfect!
It seems that in southern Africa, there is nothing to gain from switching from left to right. In fact, if you go back and forth several times, the increased interest will be unknown. This is the reason why you put fat meat in the refrigerator. Although there is no less meat, your hands are covered with oil.
.
In this way, the British government can achieve its strategic goal of supporting Germany to balance France without spending a penny, and it can also conveniently transfer the debt to the German government, exempting interest that may be more than the principal.
There is no loss in southern Africa. The only hidden danger is whether the German government will completely deny its debt like the new Russian government before it.
"No!" Rock said decisively.
The current German government does not dare to default on its debts, but when Mustache comes to power, Germany will stop paying reparations and will not start paying again until the end of World War II. Rock has no time to waste time with the Germans.
The cost is also from the British Empire. The German government has no money to begin with, and it can't use up much oil and water.
"Then what do you want? Do you really want to sell London to pay off the debt? Do you dare to buy it?" Winston was forced into a corner and showed his fierce appearance. The rabbit was so anxious that he even stepped on the hawk.
What's more, the British Empire is no rabbit.
"Winston, I have a suggestion. One percent of the British government's annual revenue should be used to pay off debts. What do you think?" Rock actively tried to find ways to help the British government get out of the quagmire. Now southern Africa still needs
Only a powerful British Empire can better protect the interests of southern Africa.
"What are you thinking? Absolutely impossible!" Winston was shocked and angry. Roark actually set his sights on the British government's income. This is really intolerable.
However, after getting angry, Winston looked back and realized that it was not impossible.
After all, the money has to be repaid. Unlike another time and space, the creditors of the debts owed by the British government in this time and space are all British, and those who hold the most debts are the British elite, so Congress never thought of defaulting on the debt from the beginning. After all,
Those members of Congress also purchased valuable British government bonds.
Rock smiled and said nothing, no matter how angry Winston was now, Winston would understand in a few days.
Leaving the palace where Winston lived, Roque returned to his temporary residence in Paris.
Roque's temporary residence in Paris was the luxurious castle that Nivelle once used as the headquarters of the French army.
Regardless of Nivelle's military talents, Nivelle was really better at enjoying life than Roque, so after Nivelle went home sadly after class and wrote a book, Christian bought the castle.
, serving as Roque's temporary residence in Paris.
Roque was busy at work during the World War. It had been four years since then. Roque had never had a good look at the city of Paris.
Now that the world war is finally over, Rock is no longer in a hurry, so he simply doesn't even sit down and walks around slowly. Fortunately, when he came to see Winston, Rock was wearing casual clothes.
Zach was also in casual clothes, while Angel was in military uniform. However, in Paris at this time, soldiers could be seen everywhere, so it was not out of the ordinary.
In Paris after the World War, the city buildings were still majestic, the streets were crowded with people, and the market was extremely prosperous——
This prosperity is temporary. The world war has just ended, and various military supplies ordered by the French government are still being shipped to France. These have been paid by the French government, and the orders cannot be cancelled.
As more and more troops withdraw from France, compared with during the World War, France has more and more surplus materials. The British Expeditionary Force has 1.75 million tons of various materials that have not been used up, of which not only
Including unused weapons and ammunition, as well as a large number of food, daily necessities, cars, etc.
Now the expeditionary force has transported some of the supplies back to the British mainland, but there is still a considerable part that cannot be transported and can only be processed on the spot in France.
For example, military facilities such as airport hospitals and military camps built by the British Expeditionary Force during the World War cannot be moved back to the UK and can only be digested locally.
Rock will not take advantage of this. Leonard Capet has made huge profits. Three years ago, the British Expeditionary Force spent a total of 950,000 pounds on the field hospital built in Dunkirk. Now Leonard Capet only
I bought the hospital for 200,000 yuan.
Although the British Expeditionary Force moved quickly, a large amount of military and civilian supplies still flowed into the market. Many flea markets have spontaneously formed in Paris. Most of the operators are soldiers who are still stranded in Paris. They secretly take the distributed supplies out of the military camps.
In exchange for money or souvenirs with other people, some French people sell the handicrafts they have accumulated for countless years on the market.
Not far from the palace where Winston lived, Rock saw a French soldier with broken legs on the street setting up a stall to sell souvenirs. A simple white sheet was filled with all kinds of souvenirs.
As a gadget, this French soldier also wears a Legion of Honor medal issued by the French government on his chest.
The Legion of Honor is the highest honor in France. The total number of medals is fixed, and Roque also has one.
When Roque noticed the French soldier, a short man was communicating with the French soldiers in front of the stall. The short guy also noticed the Legion of Honor medal on the chest of the French soldier.
"This medal is not for sale. Everything that can be sold is on the bed sheet. Don't try to get my medal!" The French soldier was unbearable and was on the verge of an explosion.
"How much do you want? 100 francs, or 200 francs? Make a price!" The little man spoke in broken English, which sounded very difficult.
Rock suddenly realized that the Japanese——
"Asshole, I've already said that this medal is not for sale. If you don't want to do business, get out of here. Don't affect my business." The French soldier's face turned red. The Japanese in front of him didn't seem to understand that some things are priceless.
.
"You are already in such a miserable state, why don't you be smarter? This medal is only worth a little money here, and other things are worthless!" The Japanese have an arrogant attitude. If they do this, they will probably replace the United States soon.